Teaching in a CLT method: its pros and cons for students.

Teaching in a CLT method: its pros and cons for students.

Yuldoshova Mushtariy Utkir qizi

4th year student, Bachelor’s degree in Termez State University

mushtariyyoldoshova256@gmail.com

+998 93 895 15 11

Annotation: This article will be discussed effects of communicative language teaching method and its usage for students. It has no so much effect and benefit for language learners, CLT method has lots of beneficial sides and it has its own future especially for future communication.

Key words: Communicative language teaching methodology, interaction skills, student-student cooperation, cooperative learning, visual activities.

Communicative language teaching methodology emerged in the 1980s as a response to the growing demand for a language curriculum that would enable learners to use the second language in real-life situations. Previously, foreign language teaching (or English language teaching for non-native English speakers) has predominantly had its emphasis on grammatical competence, especially because grammar-translation was the most accepted teaching method, rather than actually focusing on developing students’ communication and interaction skills. As time passed, communicative language teaching method had been replacing grammar translation method because the demand of communicative language teaching method increased so much. At the end of the day, language does principally exist to make communication possible. CLT methods primarily focus on the interaction during a classroom-based foreign language class or remote language learning session, in which language learners actually produce speech and engage in conversations for most of the classroom time using the target language. It has great effect for making communication skills higher. In addition to this, it is really comfortable method to teach students online.

The main purpose behind communicative language teaching methods is to prepare students to be confident communicators in different real-life contexts, through repetitive oral practices and student-student cooperation. In CLT, communication is the end and the means of the teaching method. You can read more about the advantages of the CLT approach here: “What are the advantages of Communicative Language Teaching ?“

One can master the rules of sentence formation in a language and still not be very successful at being able to use the language for meaningful communication (Richards 2006).

Encourage student-student interaction with role-playing and collaborative tasks

Student-student interaction plays an essential role in applying a communicative teaching approach. As the more traditional teaching styles have usually been rather teacher dominant with students mainly learning through passive listening, studentstudent interaction, on the contrary, focuses on the active interaction among the students themselves during language classes.

Student-student interaction embraces the strategies of cooperative learning in which each student’s learning success is dependent on the whole group’s input during the classroom sessions. This is an effective way of engaging the whole class as such exercises engage all students, not just the minority of active students who typically participate in a regular class. In classes, teachers play minor rule (20%) and students play major (80%) role, so in that case teachers have a great chance to improve their students’ language skills. Student-student interaction embraces the strategies of cooperative learning in which each student’s learning success is dependent on the whole group’s input during the classroom sessions. This is an effective way of engaging the whole class as such exercises engage all students, not just the minority of active students who typically participate in a regular class.

One popular CLT activity is role-playing. There is a playful component in roleplaying that helps students practice speaking without feeling pressure. You can for example assign parts to your students, or let them decide on a specific setting. Choose a topic that is relevant to students, or one that connects to other topics explained in class. This will ensure that role-playing is an integral part of language lessons and not only a stand-alone experience. Visual activities also have great power to make students think critical and increase theirs writing skills. Collaborative tasks like assigning student groups to solve a puzzle using only the target language are also popular activities in CLT. This type of exercise allows not only to enhance students’ communication skills and language skills but also to experiment with the peer-learning approach, which is useful in strengthening relationships among students.

How to make use of communicative language teaching in your language instruction?

Although a teacher’s role is not as dominant during exercises that emphasize student-student interaction, it certainly is substantial in making the interactional learning space as functional for the students as possible. Each student in a language classroom has individual needs, levels of abilities, and interests. Therefore, having different tasks designed to meet the needs and skills of different students is essential in CLT. Also, providing a supportive learning environment makes participation easier for students, especially those who easily feel shy about active participation.

Some of the challenges that teachers may face when implementing this method in their language classrooms are:

Large class sizes: CLT is most effective in smaller groups where students can actively engage in communicative activities. In large classes, it can be challenging to manage and facilitate meaningful interaction between all students and the teacher’s time might not be sufficient to provide feedback and support for all student pairs/groups.

Limited resources: Implementing CLT may require additional language learning resources, such as authentic materials, audio-visual aids, or digital tools. Inadequate access to these resources can hinder the effective application of CLT in the classroom.

Student expectations: Some students might have a traditional view of language learning, expecting a focus on grammar and vocabulary. They may be resistant to the communicative approach or feel frustrated by the emphasis on speaking-based activities.

Cultural barriers: In some cultures, students may be hesitant to speak up or engage in communicative activities due to societal norms, inhibitions, or concerns about making mistakes in front of their peers.

Assessment challenges: Traditional language assessments and exams often focus on reading, writing and grammar skills rather than communicative competence. Teachers may find it difficult to assess students’ progress in a way that aligns with the goals of CLT and they might need to spend extra time redesigning their assessment and examination processes.

Stating all of my experience and my instructors lessons I realize that, there are big role of communicative language teaching. However, we try to learn by heart grammar rules and vocabulary of that new language. It has no so much effect and benefit for language learners, CLT method has lots of beneficial sides and it has its own future especially for future communication.

REFERENCES

1. https://sanaco.com

2. Felder, R. & Henriques, E. 1995. Learning and Teaching Styles in

Foreign and Second Language Education. Foreign Language Annals 28;

3. Jacobs, G. 2016. Student-Student Interaction. Simple, Powerful

Strategies for Student Centered Learning: Chapter 2. SpringerBriefs in

Education;

4. Richards, J. 2006. Communicative Language Teaching Today.

Cambridge University Press, New York.

5. On TESOL. How To Use the Communicative Approach – Free

Introduction to the Communicative Approach.